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深不可測

简深不可测 · 繁深不可測

Mandarin · pinyin shēn bù kě cè

deep and unmeasurable (idiom); unfathomable depths
incomprehensible
enigmatic and impossible to predict

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Characters in this entry

深: shēn · deep; depth; far; very, extreme
不: bù · no, not; un-; negative prefix
可: kě · may, can, -able; possibly
測: Look up this written character
测: cè · measure, estimate, conjecture

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–4–3–4 · shen1 bu4 ke3 ce4

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

深不可測 · find source passages ↗ · 深不可测 · find source passages ↗

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) unfathomable; impossible to understand

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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